Improved composition dental plate



ifinitrd states A'SA HILL, OF NORWAL'K, CONNECTICUT.

Letters Patent No. 93,086, dated- July 27, 1 869.

IMPROVED COMPOSITION DENTAL PLATE.

The Schedule referred to in theseLettei-s Patent and making part-of thesame.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ASA HILL, of Norwalk, in the county of Fairfield,and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Compound or Preparation for Artificial Gums, or Plates,or Base for Teeth; and do hereby declare that the following is a full,clear, and exact description thereof.

To enableothers skilled in the art to construct and use my invention, Iwill proceed to describe it.

The objectof this inventionis to furnish artificial gurus, or dentalplates, or bases for teeth, which afford the requisite qualities ofstrength, toughness, and'duw rability, as well as ease and facility ofadaptation, and to obviate the difficulties and obstacles incident tothe application of all the diiierentmethods of doing the.

same at present known to the dental profession, as also to greatlyfacilitate the mounting or setting of artificial teeth, and attachingthem to the-base or dental plates.

This process requires no heat, swaging, or vulcanization, and reducesthe-process to the last simplicity.

The materials employed for this purpose are- First, collodion ofgun-cotton, dissolved in ether and alcohol, combined with varioussubstances to give it color and body, and prei'ent its explosive effectsor qualities.

Second, fibrous, textile, or pulpy materials, such as paper, either inpulp or in form, cotton, linen, woollen, or silk, whichever may bepreferred.

Third, perforated metal plates, of gold, silver, aluminum, platinum,iron, or Zinc, or wire gauze, or cloth of any suitable kind. v

The following is a clear and faithfnl'description oi my method ofpreparing the same for use, and their application to the objects andpurposes herein set forth.

I first dissolve a sufiicient quantity of prepared cotton or collodionin ether and alcohol, in which is combined fine-asbestos, with mineraloxides, to give it color, such, for instance, as. red oxide of iron,sometimes adding oxide of zine, and other substances of like character,forthe purposes previously named.

I Having mysolution ready, I next take a fine plaster model of themouth, and proceed to adapt the material for forming my artificialdentine as follows:

Method N0. IL

I first cut a pattern for my plate, of paper, adapted to the model. Fromthis paper pattern I out several of the same form, muslin, woollen,silk, or woollen, according as the plate is to be thick or thin.

I then saturate the same in my solution,'an(l.- press them, with myfingers, over the model, until they adapt themselves to all theinequalities ofsurface and form, and until they become a perfect fit.These several layers thus become connectedtogether in one mass,

quite homogeneous, thus constituting my dental plate or base.

I then select my teeth for mounting, and hn'ing adjusted them inposition,'-proceed to cement them to the plate or base by the samesolution. This may be laid on with a small spatula, or other instrumentadapted to the purpose, and as layer after layer is thus laid on andaround the 'teeth, giving suiiioient time for evaporation, the materialshrinks around the teeth,

binding them firmly to the base, and when finished,

present the natural appearance of the gums and the form of the alveolior jaw.

This is all. accomplished without heat, or dies,-or pressure of anykind, save what is sufficient-to mass the materials together, and holdthem in position until they become-hard and stiff by evaporation of theether and alcohol.

Met/ 00d. ,No. 2.

plaster model, by pressing it over the same, and burnishing it down uponthe model until it becomes a perfect fit, and laying it over the firstlamina, cement it together by filling the interstices with the solution,

and holding it .in place until. it becomes fixed by cementation.

After this I- saturate another lamina, and spread it over the whole,taking care to press and consolidate the whole together, thus forming mydental plate or base, after which the teeth-are mounted. as before.

Method No. 3.

I take felt or woven cloth, either. with or without color, preferringthe pure white felt, of suitable thickness, and after cutting it theright size and form, saturate it thoroughly with the solution until itbecomes interwoven with the fibres of the cloth,-and then proceed tomould upon the model, as before.

This base is so nearly homogeneous, so flexible in moulding, and,withal, so solid and compact when finished, that I prefer it to any ofthe processes yetmentioned.

vWhen felt or woven cloth is thus treated, nud'fully settled upon themodel, it supplies the lightest and strongest dental plate or base withwhich I am urquainted; and it is very easily adapted to any requiredcase, and secures the most perfect adaptation to any inequalities ofform of any material now in use.

If need be, the plates or base time prepaml may he strengthened or builtup in any part at discretion, by

spreading over and upon it the solution before named.

Plates formed of these materials, and in the manner herein described,fulfil more perfectly all the indications and necessities of the dentalprofession, in a manner far more simple, complete, and effective, thanany known materials now in use; and'in case of accident, by breaking atooth, it can be replaced with the greatest facility, and be just asgood as if it had never been injured or removed, and the whole piecepresent a uniform appearance, as before the accident.

The method of repairing is simply to adjust the parts, and cement thewhole together, as if nothing had occurred, by means of the solvent; andI believe this is the only material ever successfully used for stickingthe teeth tothe plate or base, with perfect success, and that, too,without heat'of any kind.

I am aware that different kinds of gums, resins, shell, 85.2., have beenemployed for this purpose, but always with only temporary success. Thevery nature of the materials employed preclude the idea of permanence,when subjected to .the heat and fluids of the month.

In case the plates should spring or warp, they may be readjusted, byimmersing them in ether and alcohol for a few moments, and then shapingthem again upon the model, asdesired.

I do not confine myself to the same exact proportions in making mycompound solutions, but may vary them, as taste, convenience, orpeculiarity of the circumstances may require; nor do I confine myself tothe same number of lamina, or to precisely the same material, 'invallcases, but may vary them as to the number or kind, whether cotton,linen, silk, woollen, or any other fibrous or textile material.

Having thus described my invention,

1. A dental plate, formed of cotton, woollen, silk, linen, paper, or anysimilar textile or fibrous material, combined with collodion,substantially as described.

2. The use of perforated metal plates or wire gauze, substantially inthe manner herein described.

3. The method of securing teeth to the plate, by means of collodion, asherein described.

ASA HILL.

Witnesses:

Axmmw SELLECK, MARTIN S. GRAW.

